Classy glassy!
Turn ordinary glassware into the perfect garden art with these design tips from our readers. Here we concentrate on just glass, whether clear or colored and how to achieve a polished look. We’ll also show what pieces to use, how to find them and where to place them in the garden.
When making garden totems, using glass only or pottery only is usually a good choice. When you mix the two materials, it can have a disjointed appearance unless you have just the right pieces. Here are the best of our all-glass totems in the garden.
Cindy Trubisky’s green and crisp clear
Kirk Willis’s favorite blues
It pays sometimes to wait for just the right pieces to assemble.
Kirk Willis says, “Here’s a totem I made with garage sale finds! Collecting and creating totems and birdbaths is addicting…and fun! It took us three years to find the right pieces for this birdbath. I made this totem with the extra pieces we had on hand after making the birdbath. I use clear GEII glue for windows and doors or E-6000 glue. Both of these can be found in a tube at the hardware store.
I glue a glass microwave dish to the bottom of my totems or birdbaths and then cover the dish with soil or bark. It adds stability.
Color is an important factor in designing a totem
Kris Flanigan stacks an ombre color combo, light to dark.
Kris Flanigan tells us, “I just started making these last June and can’t stop. I made so many I had to start selling them!”
Ordinary to extraordinary
What can you do with those old square glass light shades folks used to use for ceiling lights? You find these at thrift shops. Liz shows us!
Junktion Alley’s totem is clear and elegant
Liz from Junktion Alley says, ” Sharing my bird bath made from a lamp, a ceiling fan light cover and a ceiling light fixture cover.
Make it tall or small
A tall totem definitely need a base, such as a discarded microwave oven tray found in thrift shops. You’ll not look at these pieces the same way again. A small one can be mounted on thin 3/8 ” rebar.
Ann Elias’s glass garden ornament
Make a clear contrast
Clear glass goes with deep saturated flower color. Choose just the right plant companion for your piece.
Carolyn Manchulenko’s all clear totem
Jeanie Merritt’s all clear totem
Jeanie Merritt says, “A glass birdbath I made and sat strategically near this purple petunia… I knew the birds would love the coolness it provided.”
About the glue
Our favorite glue, GE II
Need directions? See Flea Market Glass Garden Totem: Step by Step
Add decoration..
Lisa Scherer adds crystal dangles on hers
Lisa Scherer’s fancy glass bird bath is made from yard sale finds. Lisa says, “It stays pretty clean and does not sit in direct weather. I have an overhang and the bath sits in my peppermint bed on my back porch.”
Go for COLOR!
Stephanie Wayman goes for gold
Sherry Nelson’s watery blues
Lori Schilling goes green
Make it yours!
The beauty of totems lies in the personality and expression of the person who makes them, so embrace your personal style!
Diana Duggan’s combo of opaque and translucent glass
Diana Duggan’s contemporary totem is a tall striped vase, a depression glass cake plate and an upside down green vase. It’s topped with a blue round paperweight. “Depends on the materials, Diana says, ” but this one I used GEII Silicone Clear waterprooof…from Home Depot.
More:
Flea Market Glass Garden Totem: Step by Step
Collecting glittering recycled glass for garden projects
Sherma’s sparkling bottle wall in the garden
What to do with recycled dishes and china in the garden?
Bonus:
Neat article Building Glass Towers!
